146 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

At the moment (judging purely by what the rumour mill is churning out) it seems the most likely candidates are Craig and McMahon. Personally I think McMahon is more likely.

Agreed with both of those statements, Skudor. Having seen LAYER CAKE last night, I'd love to see Craig in the role (if it isn't going to be Owen), but he'd be an extraordinarily brave choice (which accounts for both my interest in him and my suspicion that The Powers That Be would pull back from the brink before casting him).

I think Craig will go down as the Sam Neill of the hunt for Bond 6 - an excellent actor, with amazing screen presence, and plenty of really terrific Bondian qualities (the cockiness, the smoothness, the danger, etc.), but ultimately someone whose less-than-perfect facial features prevented him getting the job.

Also, it seems that the LAYER CAKE actor/director combo of Craig and Matthew Vaughn was Sony's choice for CASINO ROYALE at one point, not Eon's, and that now that Vaughn is out of the picture maybe Craig is too.

[Skudor]

Personally, I'd be as pleased at not seeing Craig as Bond as I am that Neill didn't get it. I guess I'm one of the ones that find the look very important. Shallow, I know

Edited by Skudor, 05 May 2005 - 02:13 PM.

[tdalton]

But frankly, and I never thought I'd say this, I'm still waiting for a tall, dark and handsome stranger to come and sweep me away.  None of the stallions on display so far have blown me away.

I'm still waiting for the one candidate to blow me away, also. I think that Clive Owen is the best "candidate" of the bunch, but he's far from being a natural choice in the way that the other Bond actors were (excluding Lazenby) when they were chosen for the role. Owen and Craig are solid choices, but I'm still waiting for that one guy to rise above the pack and really separate himself.

[Loomis]

Owen and Craig are solid choices, but I'm still waiting for that one guy to rise above the pack and really separate himself.

I'm not. Owen and Craig are the only two actors I'd like to see in the role at this moment, although that said I guess Jackman might be quite good. Both Owen and Craig have a "coolness factor" (which sounds really trendy and naff, I suppose, but isn't meant to) that simply none of the other names has (IMO). I do see Owen as the natural choice for 007, the "Bond in waiting" in the public mind, although I'm aware that many don't so I guess there's no point in having the same old arguments all over again. As for Craig.... yes, his looks definitely are a problem for the Bond role (although I don't think that any of the so-called candidates even comes close to matching Brosnan in terms of beauty - not one of them; which creates a big problem if people think Brosnan has created a minimum standard of looks that must be met). However, I'm convinced he could act Bond absolutely superbly, perhaps even better than Owen.

If Owen and Craig are the two finalists (and there's no evidence to suggest that they are, of course), I'm happy.

[tdalton]

Owen and Craig are solid choices, but I'm still waiting for that one guy to rise above the pack and really separate himself.

I'm not. Owen and Craig are the only two actors I'd like to see in the role at this moment, although that said I guess Jackman might be quite good. Both Owen and Craig have a "coolness factor" (which sounds really trendy and naff, I suppose, but isn't meant to) that simply none of the other names has (IMO). I do see Owen as the natural choice for 007, the "Bond in waiting" in the public mind, although I'm aware that many don't so I guess there's no point in having the same old arguments all over again. As for Craig.... yes, his looks definitely are a problem for the Bond role (although I don't think that any of the so-called candidates even comes close to matching Brosnan in terms of beauty - not one of them; which creates a big problem if people think Brosnan has created a minimum standard of looks that must be met). However, I'm convinced he could act Bond absolutely superbly, perhaps even better than Owen.

If Owen and Craig are the two finalists (and there's no evidence to suggest that they are, of course), I'm happy.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have either Clive Owen or Daniel Craig as the next Bond. I don't think that the producers could do better than these two guys. They're both excellent actors who, as you said, would be able to bring a coolness to Bond as well as the hard edged grittiness that we've been missing during the Brosnan films. I think what I meant was that there is no one candidate that is so overwhelmingly the favorite, but instead we are faced with two or three guys who are on a very level playing field.

I think that I will, however, join you Loomis in listing Daniel Craig as my next Bond just to show the guy that he does have some support amongst the Bond community and that, in the event that Clive can't/won't take the part, then he's the guy for the role.

Edited by tdalton, 05 May 2005 - 03:08 PM.

[David Schofield]

It would be interesting how much the idea of Craig as Bond would involve "Bonding-him up" - dying his hair, trying to accentuate his looks in the more tradtional good looking way, suiting and booting - or using Craid as-is as a new look/type Bond.

[Loomis]

It would be interesting how much the idea of Craig as Bond would involve "Bonding-him up" - dying his hair, trying to accentuate his looks in the more tradtional good looking way, suiting and booting - or using Craid as-is as a new look/type Bond.

Well, I think if they're going to hire Craig, then they might as well go down the "new look/type" path. Lashing on the dye, makeup, etc. in an effort to make him conform to the traditional "tall, dark and handsome" Bond image would probably just look silly and beg the question of why they didn't just hire a tall, dark and handsome actor. Whatever it may say in Fleming or elsewhere, I don't see that there's any law that Bond should have dark hair - wasn't Moore's pretty light?

Here's a pic spynovelfan put up on the "Daniel Craig a serious contender after all?" thread - no idea which film it's from. I think he'd be fine looking pretty much like this as James Bond:

[David Schofield]

It would be interesting how much the idea of Craig as Bond would involve "Bonding-him up" - dying his hair, trying to accentuate his looks in the more tradtional good looking way, suiting and booting - or using Craid as-is as a new look/type Bond.

Well, I think if they're going to hire Craig, then they might as well go down the "new look/type" path. Lashing on the dye, makeup, etc. in an effort to make him conform to the traditional "tall, dark and handsome" Bond image would probably just look silly and beg the question of why they didn't just hire a tall, dark and handsome actor. Whatever it may say in Fleming or elsewhere, I don't see that there's any law that Bond should have dark hair - wasn't Moore's pretty light?

Here's a pic spynovelfan put up on the "Daniel Craig a serious contender after all?" thread - no idea which film it's from. I think he'd be fine looking pretty much like this as James Bond:

Loomis, I would tend to agree with you. Craig = new image/direction. I suspect that's the very reason why their has been this apparent stand-off between EON and Sony.

However, I would prefer darker hair. It's in Fleming. Call me a pedant if you wish. I can accept open shirts, suits without ties. But I need dark hair.

[Loomis]

Owen and Craig are solid choices, but I'm still waiting for that one guy to rise above the pack and really separate himself.

I'm not. Owen and Craig are the only two actors I'd like to see in the role at this moment, although that said I guess Jackman might be quite good. Both Owen and Craig have a "coolness factor" (which sounds really trendy and naff, I suppose, but isn't meant to) that simply none of the other names has (IMO). I do see Owen as the natural choice for 007, the "Bond in waiting" in the public mind, although I'm aware that many don't so I guess there's no point in having the same old arguments all over again. As for Craig.... yes, his looks definitely are a problem for the Bond role (although I don't think that any of the so-called candidates even comes close to matching Brosnan in terms of beauty - not one of them; which creates a big problem if people think Brosnan has created a minimum standard of looks that must be met). However, I'm convinced he could act Bond absolutely superbly, perhaps even better than Owen.

If Owen and Craig are the two finalists (and there's no evidence to suggest that they are, of course), I'm happy.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have either Clive Owen or Daniel Craig as the next Bond. I don't think that the producers could do better than these two guys. They're both excellent actors who, as you said, would be able to bring a coolness to Bond as well as the hard edged grittiness that we've been missing during the Brosnan films. I think what I meant was that there is no one candidate that is so overwhelmingly the favorite, but instead we are faced with two or three guys who are on a very level playing field.

I think that I will, however, join you Loomis in listing Daniel Craig as my next Bond just to show the guy that he does have some support amongst the Bond community and that, in the event that Clive can't/won't take the part, then he's the guy for the role.

Have you seen LAYER CAKE? I reckon anyone posting under the name "tdalton" would see some similarities between Craig and the star of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

[spynovelfan]

They'd Bond him up and he'd look absolutely fine. He wouldn't be the model that Brosnan was, no - but he is more than capable of looking like James Bond. I think the only necessity is to give him a decent haircut. But this guy has a lot of that Connery brute appeal, and I think women would respond, and men would want to be him. I actually think there's one more element to Bond nowadays, though, and that's the one that makes it brave. Kids also have to want to be him. He has to be the face of the next PlayStation game, and model watches, and so on. And that's a much tougher market than 20- and 30-something guys who can appreciate that the guy looks a bit hard in the Connery vein, and women who actually don't really mind that he's not a pretty boy, he's got something about him, and so on. 13-year-old boys, though, can be much harshers, and might just say 'Yeah, but he's ugly' and that's the end of the story.

Anyway, to redress the balance, two shots of a smartened up Craig. As I say, he needs a better haircut, but otherwise, I think this guy looks like he could be about to introduce himself as 'Bond. James Bond.'

pic1: http://www.bluematia.com/Vogue5.jpg
pic2: http://www.bluematia.com/Arena1.jpg

[tdalton]

Have you seen LAYER CAKE? I reckon anyone posting under the name "tdalton" would see some similarities between Craig and the star of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen Layer Cake, being as I'm from the U.S. and it hasn't been released here yet (and when it is released, I think it's only going to NYC and L.A., so I'm out of luck again, I guess). I have watched the trailer numerous times and feel as though he looked good enough to play Bond in several clips from the trailer, and I have seen him in a few other movies, namely Road To Perdition to know that he is in fact a very capable actor.

[Pal]

Well, I just got back from Star Wars but one of the previews was for the Fantastic 4. Despite seeing Julien McMahon for only a few snipits, I must say, he looked very good and he was acting very well as a cold and ruthless character. I think if given the role of Bond, he would surprise us all. He is by no means my number 1 pic but his stock has raised significantly.

[Alex Zamudio]

Well, I just got back from Star Wars but one of the previews was for the Fantastic 4. Despite seeing Julien McMahon for only a few snipits, I must say, he looked very good and he was acting very well as a cold and ruthless character. I think if given the role of Bond, he would surprise us all. He is by no means my number 1 pic but his stock has raised significantly.

Same here, I also saw the F4 preview, and he looked quite good and Bondian, he could pull off a menacing spy with ease...

Regards.

[Roger Moore's Bad Facelift]

Well, I just got back from Star Wars but one of the previews was for the Fantastic 4. Despite seeing Julien McMahon for only a few snipits, I must say, he looked very good and he was acting very well as a cold and ruthless character. I think if given the role of Bond, he would surprise us all. He is by no means my number 1 pic but his stock has raised significantly.

Same here, I also saw the F4 preview, and he looked quite good and Bondian, he could pull off a menacing spy with ease...

Regards.

Nothing shown of McMahon in the F4 preview is particularly notable IMO.
However, I've always maintained that he does have the look and the acting chops to pull of the role (even if others here strongly belive otherwise).

My only fear is that too many people would view him as a deliberate attempt to mimic or clone Brosnan. Maybe a much more radical departure like Craig is what is needed. I am really not so sure. Lazenby purposely went out of his way to impersonate Connerry and audiences didn't seem to take to kindly to him(then again, Lazenby's and the film's overall poor public reception might be attributed to a mryriad of totally other reasons, as well).

Edited by Roger_Moore's_Bad_Facelift, 22 May 2005 - 12:51 AM.

[Pal]

I think a big difference between Brosnan and McMahon is that McMahon looks like he would kick your a**. Brosnan can't seem to get me believing that he is tough.

[luciusgore]

I think a big difference between Brosnan and McMahon is that McMahon looks like he would kick your a**. Brosnan can't seem to get me believing that he is tough.

I can't believe I'm hearing this. People actually want McMahon in this role? It would be a disaster. Are the McMahon proponents on his payroll or something? Or is there something about McMahon I just don't know. Think about all the other candidates, then think about McMahon. I find it hard to believe that there are actually people out there who think McMahon would be good.

[Seannery]

I think a big difference between Brosnan and McMahon is that McMahon looks like he would kick your a**. Brosnan can't seem to get me believing that he is tough.

I can't believe I'm hearing this. People actually want McMahon in this role? It would be a disaster. Are the McMahon proponents on his payroll or something? Or is there something about McMahon I just don't know. Think about all the other candidates, then think about McMahon. I find it hard to believe that there are actually people out there who think McMahon would be good.

I'm with you here all the way luciusgore--to me being a supporter of Pierce the comparison with McMahon is weak. McMahon is bland, lacks dash despite his looks and has a flat presence. There are so many at least acceptable choices, lets hope Eon doesn't flub it by choosing an unacceptable one.

[Loomis]

For once, Seannery, you and I agree on something. Please don't let it be McMahon.

[Pal]

Like I've said before, he is by no means my number one choice but I honestly believe that he will surprise us all provided he gets the role. As far as I'm concerned, he's a helluva lot better of a choice than Craig.

Edited by Pal, 22 May 2005 - 02:21 PM.

[Pal]

Here is a good pic of everybody's main man McMahon. I don't know, I see Bond when I look at JM.

Attached Files

•  emmy.jpg   23.82KB   44 downloads

Edited by Pal, 22 May 2005 - 02:36 PM.

[Bon-san]

He's always looked like a villain to me. If he gets the role, I shall have to find a way to make peace with it. But he's not on my list of preferred candidates.

[luciusgore]

Here is a good pic of everybody's main man McMahon. I don't know, I see Bond when I look at JM.

I don't mean to question anyone's credibility on here, but I sometimes whether the rabid McMahon lovers aren't really sent here -- by McMahon! His camp clearly wants him to get the role. But he just doesn't seem qualified. Too much of a cheap pretty boy. My mantra is "Anyone but ..." Go with Craig, Purefoy, Bana, Bloom virtually anyone. Heck, I'd even prefer Ledger.

[Seannery]

Here is a good pic of everybody's main man McMahon. I don't know, I see Bond when I look at JM.

I don't mean to question anyone's credibility on here, but I sometimes whether the rabid McMahon lovers aren't really sent here -- by McMahon! His camp clearly wants him to get the role. But he just doesn't seem qualified. Too much of a cheap pretty boy. My mantra is "Anyone but ..." Go with Craig, Purefoy, Bana, Bloom virtually anyone. Heck, I'd even prefer Ledger.

People like Pal are genuine Bond fans--they just disagree with us on this point. No candidate is universally liked or disliked--not even Ricki Lee Travolta

[Roger Moore's Bad Facelift]

But he just doesn't seem qualified.

The guy's a TV actor.
Aren't those precisely the same qualifications as former 007's Brosnan and Moore?
I didn't know you had to have played Hamlet in cental park in order to be considered for James Bond.

As far as McMahon looking like a villain, I agree he does look slightly villainous.
But then again, with those devlish, perpetually furrowed eyebrows, didn't Dalton, as well?

Edited by Roger_Moore's_Bad_Facelift, 22 May 2005 - 04:25 PM.

[Qwerty]

If he gets the role, I shall have to find a way to make peace with it.  But he's not on my list of preferred candidates.

My thoughts pretty much as well.

[Pal]

Thanks for covering me Seannery. I also favor Adrial Paul very much so.

[luciusgore]

I don't mean to be overly negative. My apologies. I just really, really, really can't stand McMahon. I just saw the Fantastic Four trailer last night, and it reemphasized my dislike of this guy as Bond. He's a villain type. That's all.

[Roger Moore's Bad Facelift]

I just saw the Fantastic Four trailer last night, and it reemphasized my dislike of this guy as Bond. He's a villain type. That's all.

Perhaps, yes, he may look a little "dangerous".
But isn't that a good thing?
We unequivocally want a James Bond that we believe can kick as$.
I never believed that for a second with Brosnan.

Edited by Roger_Moore's_Bad_Facelift, 23 May 2005 - 01:40 PM.

[Skudor]

Here is a good pic of everybody's main man McMahon. I don't know, I see Bond when I look at JM.

He definitely has the right look!

[H.M.Servant]

Kinda like Bond-san said; McMahon isn't my first choice either (or my second choice for that matter) but if he becomes Bond I could live with it.

But I don't think that he's really a good actor, so I don't think he would convince as Bond.

Oh and also, he isn't British either. I'm still not down with an Australian Bond.

Edited by H.M.Servant, 23 May 2005 - 04:14 PM.